Ashes 2013-14: Australia secure first Test win with a day to spare

Nathan Lyon is congratulated after claiming the prized scalp of Alastair Cook

England suffered another dramatic batting collapse in Brisbane as Australia drew first blood in the Ashes series with a crushing 381-run victory inside four days.

Chasing a mammoth 561, the tourists at one stage fought their way to 142-4 in the afternoon before a break in play due to a torrential thunderstorm led to a dramatic change in fortunes.

"The way they've won here has really given England something to think about. It's been like meeting the school bully - they've bashed England up here; they've given them a lot of things to think about and they've intimidated them."

Shane Warne

On their return to the middle England lost four wickets for nine runs, once again the spin-pace combination of Nathan Lyon and Mitchell Johnson doing the damage.

The rot set in from the moment Alastair Cook edged Lyon through to wicketkeeper Brad Haddin from just the second ball he faced after the resumption, the visiting skipper falling for a gritty 65 that spanned 195 balls.

Matt Prior (four) also fell to Lyon before a pumped up Johnson sent back Stuart Broad and Graeme Swann in the space of three balls, both to catches behind the wicket.

Having lost 6-9 in the first innings, England were looking down the barrel of being bowled out cheaply for a second successive time in the match.

The evening capitulation was in stark contrast to the first two sessions of play, with England having only lost a solitary wicket in each to raise their hopes of escaping with an unlikely draw again at the venue.

Brisbane memories

Cook was once again the leader of the rear-guard action, his defiance raising memories of his knock of 235 that spanned over 10 hours in a drawn match in Brisbane at the start of the last series Down Under.

Kevin Pietersen put on 52 with his skipper before following the example of Jonathan Trott in falling to the hook shot, Johnson again the benefactor as his bouncer was deposited straight down the throat of substitute fielder Chris Sabburg at fine leg.

Ian Bell came out to make sure the tourists suffered no further losses before the lunch break, and his alliance with Cook had reached 58 by the time he was dismissed by Peter Siddle for 32.

At that stage England were 130-4 - just over 10 overs later, albeit with a lengthy delay in between due to a stunning downpour that included huge hailstones - it was 151-8 and the only question was whether the game would be done before any further weather interruptions.

There was to be a further break in proceedings, yet even the rain didn't want to deny the Australians from recording their first Test triumph in nine.

Chris Tremlett (seven) hung around for 41 deliveries before popping Ryan Harris to short leg, then fittingly Johnson finished things off - and completed his five-wicket haul - by taking a simple return catch from James Anderson.

It left Joe Root high and dry on 26 not out, his brief cameo offering some crumb of comfort in an otherwise disappointing performance from the visitors. However there is much for team director Andy Flower and his on-field lieutenant Cook to consider ahead of the next Test in Adelaide.

Before then there is a break in Alice Springs and a tour fixture which offers their beleaguered batsmen a chance for some much-needed time in the middle. At least there they won't have to see Johnson, who finished with match figures of 9-103 and also weighed in with 103 runs with the bat.

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